Civil Aviation and Tourism Minister Afroza Khanam (Rita) said the Prime Minister has given instructions to expedite the opening of the third terminal at Hazrat Shahjalal International Airport. She made the statement on Sunday afternoon after a meeting at the Prime Minister’s Office regarding the terminal project. When asked about the possible opening date, the minister said no specific timeline could be given yet, as discussions and investigations are ongoing to determine how to accelerate the process.

The third terminal project was initiated in 2017 by the then Awami League government, with construction beginning on December 28, 2019, at an estimated cost of about Tk 21,398 crore. Former Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina partially inaugurated the terminal on October 7, 2023, and the Civil Aviation Authority had expected full operations in 2024, which did not happen. The interim government also attempted to launch the terminal but failed due to unresolved issues over ground handling, operational decisions, and technical faults inside the building.

The Prime Minister’s latest directive aims to overcome these obstacles and ensure the terminal becomes operational soon, though no date has been confirmed.